If you have a Yorkshire Terrier, or plan on getting one in the near future, you know how special these energetic little dogs are. However, not all Yorkshire Terriers meet the breed standards that have been set by the American Kennel Clubs (AKC). This, however, does not make them any less purebred than those that do meet the breed standards. Meeting the breed standard for his breed means that your dog is essentially ?perfect.' He doesn't have any flaws. You might compare it to having the perfect human body as compared to being out of shape, or having a nose that is too big, or eyes that are set too far apart.

Although not all owners allow the Yorkshire Terriers hair to grow long, if he will be competing in shows, this is a requirement, as it is part of the breed standard. The coat must be blue and tan. The hair on the face must be parted, and the hair should also be parted in the middle, from the end of the tail all the way up to the base of his skull. His body must be small, and well proportioned.

Your Yorkshire Terrier should hold his head high, and it should be flat on top. The skull must not be too rounded, and his muzzle should be short as well. He must not have an overbite or an under bite. The Yorkshire Terriers nose should be black, and his eyes should be medium sized. The eyes should be a dark color, and have an intelligent look. His teeth must be in good condition. The eyes should also have dark rims around them, and his ears must form a V, and be erect. The ears must not be set too far apart.

The Yorkshire Terriers body is small, and the back should be short. He should be the same height at his shoulders and his rear, with a level back. The feet and legs should be straight and not bowed at all. The feet should be round, and the toenails should be black. Although it is not required, dewclaws are usually removed from the hind legs, as well as the forelegs. The Yorkshire Terriers tail should be docked, and medium length and it should be held higher than the back.

Your Yorkshire Terriers hair should be glossy and silky, without any waves or curls. It is allowed to be longer than floor length, but most owners trim their Yorkies hair to floor length to make it easier on the animal. The hair on the tips of the ears and on the feet is typically trimmed shorter. The blue color in the coat should be a steel blue. In the tan and blue coat, there should not be any black hair. Your Yorkshire Terrier should not weigh more than seven pounds.

Finally, your Yorkshire Terrier will be disqualified from dog shows that are sanctioned by the AKC if he is a solid color or any combination of colors other than blue and tan. He is allowed to have a small white mark on his chest, but that mark must not be larger than one inch.

There may come a point in time when you decide that you want to breed your Yorkshire Terriers. Hopefully, before you start breeding in a helter skelter fashion, you've taken the time to learn as much as possible about the breed, and you have also had mentoring from a successful breeder.

If this is the case, you obviously need a male and female Yorkshire Terrier. Before you breed these dogs, you will have them checked out thoroughly by your veterinarian, and there will be numerous medical tests performed to determine if these dogs have any genetic defects that may be passed on to their litter. With a clean bill of health, there are other factors that you must consider.

Ideally, good breeders breed Yorkies that have matched temperaments, and those temperaments are pleasant. You should avoid breeding Yorkies that are nervous, shy, or aggressive, as these traits can be passed onto the litter as surely as a genetic defect can be passed on. Finally, the male and the female must actually get along well together, or you will most likely not be successful.

Not every Yorkshire Terrier should be bred, and not all can legally be bred. When you purchase your Yorkshire Terriers, they may already be spayed or neutered. A good breeder will alter Yorkies who are not championship quality. They will also alter Yorkies for which the new owner has not purchased the breeding rights. The breeders who use these practices are not trying to corner the market on Yorkies. The fact is that a responsible breeder will not give breeding rights to just anyone, or to just any Yorkie.

You may think that your Yorkies can be bred - or should be bred - simply because they are registered, and they do have a pedigree. While these are necessary for breeding purebred Yorkshire Terriers, it does not mean that the dogs should be bred. Just because a dog has a pedigree, it does not mean that he has the qualities that are absolutely sought in the breed. Expert breeders breed their dogs in an attempt to improve the breed.

Many people mistakenly think that there is money to be made in breeding Yorkshire Terriers. These dogs do have a high price tag, but in reality, there isn't any money being made by responsible breeders. The high quality breeding stock will cost a pretty penny, and taking care of them and their litters will also eat into those expected profits. A good breeder keeps the puppies for about three months of their lives, and during that time, these puppies will have veterinarian care, vaccinations, may be spayed or neutered, and will often be microchipped - all at the expense of the breeder.

Breeding also takes up a great deal of time, and a good breeder must be absolutely dedicated to the Yorkshire Terrier breed. The dogs and puppies must be cared for and cleaned up after, but they must also have love and attention from humans for the purpose of socialization. When the puppies are ready to be sold, a good breeder will actually interview prospective families to place the puppies in good homes.

As you can see, there is a great deal more to breeding than putting a male and female together and then running an ad to sell the puppies. Don't fall into this trap. Take the time to get mentoring from a successful Yorkshire Terrier breeder first.

Yorkshire Terriers are special and adorable. These fascinating dogs do, however, require a high degree of care. For this reason, it is important to learn as much about the breed as you possibly can, including experiences that others have had with their Yorkies. This means that you need to make it a point to connect with other Yorkshire Terrier owners.

Start finding other Yorkshire Terrier owners first through your breeder. Your breeder will know other Yorkshire Terrier owners in your local area, and even if they won't give you those owners contact information, they will happily pass yours along if you ask them to.

Your breeder will also be able to tell you how to get in contact with local chapters of national organizations, as well as private local clubs dedicated to Yorkshire Terriers. Through these clubs and organizations, you will meet other Yorkshire Terrier owners, and your Yorkie will meet other Yorkies at Yorkie meet ups that these clubs regularly schedule.

Talk to your veterinarian. He too will pass on your contact information to other Yorkshire Terrier owners, with your permission, but he will not give you contact information from other owners, unless they have requested that he do so. Be sure to read the ads on the bulletin board at the veterinarian's office as well.

This not only gives you the opportunity to connect, but it also aids in socializing your dog with other animals. Sometimes, when an animal is kept apart from all other animals, all of the time, he or she does not react well when they do come into contact with another animal. This helps to prepare your Yorkie for interaction with other dogs at dog shows, which is another venue for connecting with other Yorkshire Terrier owners. You should attend as many dog shows as you can each year.

Finally, turn to the Internet for even more connections. With the Internet, you can connect with other Yorkshire Terrier owners around the world. One of the most widely used communities for Yorkshire Terriers on the Internet is Yorkie Talk, at http://www.yorkietalk.com/. Other great online communities include Dog Hobbyist, at http://forum.doghobbyist.com/, Show Dog, at http://www.showdog.com, and Dogster, at http://www.dogster.com/.

These are all wonderful, active communities. You will be able to find just about any information that you need through these communities, and if you don't find the information that you need, you can easily ask your question, and you will get answers quickly. These communities are free to join, and as a Yorkshire Terrier owner, you will find yourself spending a great deal of time in these communities learning about your favorite breed.

Yorkshire Terriers are gorgeous little dogs. Their owners like to dress them up and take them wherever they go. They can be found on leashes, in laps, in arms, in cars, and even in handbags. These little dogs truly become like a child to their owners, and it is easy to see why. Just look at how adorable they are. But when it's all said and done, do you own you're Yorkshire Terrier, or does he own you?

It almost seems that people who do not own Yorkshire Terriers view them as pampered pets. In many cases they are absolutely right. While these were once working dogs, they have become more pampered, and their only job seems to be in being a companion to their owner. But often, the spoiling of these dogs goes so far that the owner actually becomes a companion - or in some cases a slave - to the dog instead of the other way around.

While some spoiling of your Yorkshire Terrier is fine, you shouldn't cross the line. Otherwise, you really will be a servant to your dog. Just as you would not let a child dictate the running of your home, you cannot allow this precious little dog to take over your life completely either - or make the decisions.

This is why it is important to establish a schedule early. Yorkshire Terriers are smart dogs, and they adjust nicely to routine schedules. In fact, they prefer to know what to expect, and dislike surprises. There should be a time to wake up, a time to go to sleep, and certain times to eat and play. You need to stick with this schedule as closely as possible each and everyday.

You must teach your Yorkshire Terrier good manners. This may require obedience training. He must not jump on furniture that you want him to stay off of. He must not jump up on guests. He must not chew up your shoes, your clothing, or your furniture. If you let him get away with this, it won't be long before your home is literally destroyed, and nobody wants to visit.

Your Yorkshire Terrier also needs table manners. This means that when you are sitting at the dinner table, your Yorkshire Terrier isn't on top of it eating out of your plate, or jumping up and begging for food. He needs to know what is and is not acceptable. A well behaved Yorkie would never beg for food. Because he has a schedule, he knows when it is time for him to eat, where he will be eating, and he has a pretty good idea as to what you will be feeding him. He won't have a reason to beg for food, unless this is something that you are allowing.

Yorkshire Terriers can be a little vengeful. If you must leave your dog home alone for a few hours, you may come home to find that he has destroyed something. He should be reprimanded, and the next time you leave, he needs to be confined to a place where he cannot destroy anything. Eventually, he will understand that you will come home, and that destroying your things will not make you take him with you. Overall, you can spoil your Yorkshire Terrier a bit. Just make sure that he knows that you are the master, and he is the pet.

Many people who are not knowledgeable about the breed simply cannot tell one Yorkshire Terrier apart from another Yorkshire Terrier of the same age and size, with the same haircut. Although Yorkshire Terrier lovers around the world can easily tell the difference between two seemingly identical dogs, owners do enjoy dressing their Yorkshire Terriers up a bit.

Most Yorkshire Terrier owners do a topknot on top of the Yorkies head, and put a bow on it. This is acceptable for male and female Yorkshire Terriers, and it helps to hold their long hair up out of their face, and out of their food. Therefore, it has a utility purpose other than just looking cute. You should have a variety of hair bows for your Yorkie, and put a fresh bow on his topknot, or just above both of his ears, each day.

It is not uncommon for male dogs to wear bandanas around their necks. Make sure that your Yorkies bandana is not so tight that it is uncomfortable or dangerous for him, and not so loose that it will hinder his movements. You can buy human bandanas for this, or bandanas designed especially for dogs in a variety of colors and patterns.

Smaller dogs get cold easier and have a harder time warming up. Therefore, for winter weather, you should definitely have a wide selection of sweaters for your Yorkshire Terrier to wear around the house. Even if he doesn't like them, put a sweater on him when you take him outdoors in the winter time.

Some Yorkshire Terriers have need of stockings for their hind legs. This is because Yorkies are prone to skin irritations, which they only make worse when they scratch. If this is the case, you can use human socks, or you can purchase a variety of stockings designed for small dogs from pet stores or online sources.

Many owners really dress their female Yorkshire Terriers to the nines. They purchase dresses and even top and skirt combinations with matching hair bows. If you do want to dress your Yorkshire Terrier up, make sure that you are not causing the dog any discomfort. Not all clothing is comfortable for these dogs. Make sure that nothing is too tight or too loose, and that nothing is hindering his movements or daily activities.

Finally, wash your Yorkshire Terriers clothes often. Do not use laundry soap that you use for your own clothes. Instead, select laundry detergent that is designed for baby clothes, as this type of detergent has fewer perfumes and such that can irritate your Yorkshire Terriers skin.

One final tip - if you start dressing your Yorkshire Terrier when he is a baby, he will actually come to like his clothing. In fact, he will miss it when it isn't there, and may actually ?request' that you dress him.

When you get a Yorkshire Terrier, it probably won't occur to you that these energetic little dogs must be entertained, or they will find trouble. Are you prepared for the time that it takes to keep your Yorkshire Terrier entertained?

Start by making sure that your Yorkshire Terrier has enough quality toys. There should be toys to chase and toys to simply gnaw on. Some owners give their Yorkshire Terriers even more comfort by providing them with soft toys that they simply hug, clean, or sleep with. Try to choose toys that are well made, and those that won't be destroyed easily.

Next, be prepared to enjoy those toys with your Yorkshire Terrier. You should play games that have him jumping, running, and even games that have him crawling. Remember that these little dogs may be full of energy, but they still require full body workouts in order to stay in shape.

Your Yorkshire Terrier is not only full of energy, but he is also highly intelligent. This means that you must occupy his body as well as his mind. Teach him tricks, and have him perform those tricks daily. Teach him the names of his toys, and have him pick certain toys - by name - out of his toy box. Throw his ball and have him bring it back to you and drop it at your feet.

There are some experts who say that a dog cannot see images on a television, while there are others that swear that dogs can see those images, although not in color. If you've ever watched your dog watch television, you will most likely agree with the later group. Regardless of whether or not he can see images, he can certainly hear. Therefore, if you will be leaving your Yorkshire Terrier alone for several hours, you might consider turning on the television or stereo for him, so that he doesn't feel quite so alone.

Be sure to take your Yorkshire Terrier on walks daily, and spend time with him playing outdoors as well. You should teach him to walk on a leash at a young age, and teach him basic commands such as come, sit, fetch, lay, heel, and stay. Some owners build obstacles courses, similar to courses used in shows, and teach their dogs to run those courses.

There will be times when your Yorkshire Terrier is content to nap beside you, but you must be prepared to fill the other times of his life - when he is not content to lie quietly. Remember that if you aren't providing entertainment for him, he will find his own entertainment, and this will usually involve the destruction of some of your other prized possessions.

You wouldn't think that such small dogs had such special dietary needs, but Yorkshire Terriers really do have special nutritional needs, and they are indeed very picky eaters.

Most Yorkshire Terrier owners do not purchase commercial dog food for their beloved pets. Instead, these special dogs are fed the same foods that people eat. Favorite foods include chicken and beef, as well as a variety of green vegetables, milk, and bread. All foods should be free of preservatives, organic if possible, and all meats should be thoroughly cooked.

You should ask your veterinarian how much your Yorkshire Terrier should eat, and how often. If a Yorkshire puppy goes too long without eating, he has a very high chance of suffering from Hypoglycemia. Ideally, your Yorkshire Terrier will be fed three times a day, with a snack in the evening.

Your veterinarian may inquire as to exactly what you are feeding your Yorkie, so that he can determine which supplements your dog may need. No supplements of vitamin C should be given to a Yorkshire Terrier, and you do not need to feed him foods rich in vitamin C either. For the most part, you should try to provide all of the nutrients, minerals, and vitamins that your Yorkshire Terrier needs through the food that he eats.

Cooking for your Yorkshire Terrier is not time consuming. Most Yorkie owners prepare food for the week within a couple of hours, and then store that food in the refrigerator. You can heat the food in the microwave or on the stove - or simply allow the portion he is about to eat to come to room temperature before serving it to him.

Water, of course, is essential. While you do not want to make food freely available to your Yorkshire Terrier, you absolutely must provide a steady supply of fresh water. Your Yorkie will be very energetic, and can easily become dehydrated if fresh water is not continually available.

The best food dishes will be made of durable plastic or glass. Do not use crockery type bowls, as bacteria from food can seep into the pores, and eventually make your dog ill. Wash his water bowl once a day, and wash his food bowl after each meal. Make sure that you rinse the dishes well, so that no soap residue remains.

Be prepared for the pickiness, and make sure that you pay attention to what your dog is and is not eating. If a Yorkie doesn't like some of the food in his bowl, he will push that food to the side, and eat the foods that he likes around it. Again, pay attention to what he isn't eating, so that you can exchange that particular food with one that is equal in terms of vitamins and minerals.

Anyone who has a female Yorkshire Terrier who has a litter is in fact a breeder of Yorkshire Terriers. However, this does not mean that they are a good breeder. There are good breeders and there are bad breeders, and for many reasons, you want to work only with a good, responsible breeder when you get your Yorkshire Terrier puppy.

A good breeder does not have accidental litters. All of the litters are planned in advance, and often, the puppies are sold before they are even conceived if the female has had previous litters for which there are pictures. Before breeding takes place, a good breeder will have the male and female checked by the veterinarian, and will also have them tested for genetic issues that may affect the litter.

A good breeder will also match the temperaments of the male and female, and only breed those that have great temperaments. They watch their breeding stock and weed out those that have nervous personalities, those that are not people friendly, and those that are aggressive, knowing that temperaments can be inherited. A good breeder will also avoid breeding dogs that are closely related to each other, with the understanding that this can cause severe genetic problems.

You will not find a Yorkshire Terrier that was bred by a good breeder in a pet shop. Good breeders only sell to private individuals, and they work directly with that individual - not through a broker. A good breeder typically shows their own dogs and they regularly participate in various training activities, such as obedience training and such.

You can find a good breeder through dog clubs in your area, or through the American Kennel Club (AKC). There are also many Yorkshire Terrier specific organizations that will connect you with a breeder in your area. Many breeders will advertise online, but this does not mean that they are good breeders. Of course, it doesn't mean that they are bad breeders either.

Ideally, you will visit the breeder in person. When you arrive, take a look at their facilities. Is it clean? Are the dogs allowed to spend time with the family, or are they kept separate from the family? Do the dogs and puppies appear to be happy and healthy? Do you see anything that makes you uneasy?

Do yourself, responsible breeders, and the breed itself a favor. Only work with responsible breeders. Do not support backyard breeders, puppy mills, or pet stores when you purchase your Yorkshire Terrier. If you know someone who owns a Yorkshire Terrier, you can ask them for a reference, and even Yorkshire Terrier breeders will direct you to other responsible breeders if they don't have the puppy that you are looking for.

When you get a Yorkshire Terrier, you may be surprised to find out just how intelligent he is. You may be delighted to find that you can housebreak him, and teach him basic commands and simple tricks, all on your own. However, if you intend to enter him into shows, including specialty shows, your Yorkshire Terrier probably needs formal training.

Formal training may be held privately, which can be quite expensive, or in a group setting, which is typically a great deal cheaper. Classes may be held daily, weekly, or twice a week, but you will be instructed to work daily with your Yorkshire Terrier at home, between classes, as well so that he doesn't forget what he has learned before the next class takes place.

Some people think that they can send their dog off for formal training. While there are facilities that do this, where the owner need not be present, this is not recommended. Your dog needs to be trained with you in command - even if it is someone else telling you how to do it. Sending your dog off for training is much like sending your child off to boarding school. While it is an acceptable practice, it means that the trainer is in greater control than you are.

While you will find many training courses when you start looking, you should start your search for formal Yorkshire Terrier training through the American Kennel Club (AKC). Here, you will find direction to local training programs that are in line with what is expected from you and your dog at the various AKC sanctioned dog shows and competitions. Through the AKC, you can find sources for obedience training, agility training, rally training, tracking, and even pet therapy training.

No matter what your long term interests are for your Yorkshire Terrier, you should definitely start with obedience training, as all other training will depend on your Yorkie being very obedient. In obedience training, the dog and the owner learn how to work together. Your dog will learn basic commands and good manners. There are also different levels of obedience training, from beginner to advance. With obedience training through the AKC, your Yorkie can earn titles such as Companion Dog (CD), Companion Dog Excellent (CDX), Utility Dog (UD), and Obedience Trial Champion (OTCH).

With Rally training, your Yorkshire Terrier can earn titles in Rally Novice (RN), Rally Advanced (RA), Rally Excellent (RE), and Rally Advanced Excellent (RAE). Through agility training, your Yorkie will earn titles in Novice Agility (NA), Open Agility (OA), Agility Excellent (AX), Master Agility Excellent (MX), Novice Jumpers with Weaves (NAJ), Open Jumpers with Weaves (OAJ), Agility Excellent Jumper with Weaves (AXJ), Master Excellent Jumper with Weaves (MXJ), and Master Agility Champion (MACH).

Tracking titles include Tracking Dog (TD), Tracking Dog Excellent (TDX), Variable Surface Tracker (VST), and Champion Tracker (CT). Companion Dog training results in titles that include Versatile Companion Dog (VCD), but there are also Companion Dog titles that include other forms of trials as well.

While some owners want their dogs to have titles on their pedigrees, other owners participate in these training courses simply to have a better behaved dog, or simply because the training is fun for both the dog and the owner.

Most dogs need some degree of grooming, but Yorkshire Terriers are considered to be high maintenance dogs. This means that they require more grooming than most other breeds. In fact, a Yorkshire Terrier requires daily grooming.

Daily grooming entails brushing and combing your Yorkshire Terrier daily. You should start doing this daily from the day that you bring him home, so that it becomes a part of his regular routine. Also, if your Yorkie is male, once he starts lifting his leg to urinate, you will need to wipe the inside of his leg daily, as urine will get in the hair there. This can easily be done with a warm damp cloth, or with a pet wipe.

The dog should be brushed thoroughly first. As you brush him, you will find knots in his hair. Gently rub these knots between your fingers to loosen them up. Never jerk through the knots with a comb or brush, as this is not only painful, but it also causes the hair to break. After brushing, follow up with a combing. The comb will find knots and tangles that the brush did not find, and again, work these loose gently. Never leave a knot unattended, as it will only get worse - not better.

Your Yorkshire Terrier will need to be bathed weekly. He may not like this at first, but he will become accustomed to it after a while. Use warm water, and a good pet shampoo, or a tearless baby shampoo. Follow up with a good pet conditioner. His hair may feel like a human's hair, but it does have a different PH balance, and therefore pet shampoo and conditioner is better for him than products designed for human hair.

His nails will need to be trimmed about every six to eight weeks. Those little nails can become very sharp, and they will scratch you and your furniture to bits. They can also cause the dog to inadvertently injure himself. Yorkshire Terriers are prone to skin irritations, and he will try to scratch those irritations with those sharp nails. Keep them well trimmed, using a nail trimmer designed for small dogs. If you don't know how to trim his nails, have a professional groomer, a breeder, or a veterinarian to teach you how.

Use a cotton swab and wipe out the parts of his ears that you can actually see. Do not stick the swab down into the canal of his ear, as this could cause serious injury to his eardrum. His teeth also need weekly attention. You can actually buy toothbrushes and toothpaste designed for dogs, and you should definitely do so. Train your dog to open his mouth on your command, and he will get used to having his teeth brushed as well. Be aware of any pain that he may be experiencing when you brush his teeth, and also visually check his teeth for any signs of a problem. Your veterinarian can treat your Yorkshire Terriers teeth.

Yorkshire Terriers may be high maintenance, and they may require some time when it comes to grooming, but these special little dogs are absolutely beautiful and a joy to be with when they are properly cared for.